GROWING IN THE SPIRIT (Part 6)
Ephesians 1:17-23
MIND DEVELOPMENT (A)
Beloved, we have come into the dispensation, when Mind is dominant, when men and women in larger measure are able to utilize the illimitable powers of The Mind positively.
This is the time when the thought-force becomes the tool for men and Nation building; a time the Mind-Power is let loose to transform The World.
Please note that the awakened mind is a state of human society, that is very developed and organized; you may term it Civilization, which had brought forth advanced knowledge in Mental, Scientific and Spiritual developments in the wealth of Nations and individuals.
The Scriptures in Proverbs 23:7a says “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
No wonder the Western development which rubbed upon many parts of the world as a result in Mind development and The Spiritual awakening, which came in by Missionaries as a transfer of knowledge through Education and Christianity as the architect of Western Civilization.
This is the difference between those who imbibed the culture of Western education in the Mind development and those who are half-baked or not educated at all; In the Christian way of life which used to be a sign post on life’s highway.
(The advantage now very visible)
The virtues essential to the Good life, Truth, Goodness, Chastity, Faith and Righteousness which were given as instructions to live life as from infancy.
Apostle Paul wrote to his beloved Son in I Timothy 4:13 “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” also in II Timothy 2:15, he saith “study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing The Word of Truth.”
The Lord is a God of knowledge (I Sam. 2:3 and Ecc. 2:26a) no wonder, He planted in Eden the tree of knowledge.
It is time we begin to remodel not only our environment, we must remodel our Minds in Spiritual Awakening; developing our Spiritual Knowledge.
It is worthy of note that we have neglected the basic instructions of the Scriptures.
Perhaps the silent social revolution of the last half century has resulted in greater maladjusted form of life pattern especially as regards our youths having mental and emotional problems that is resulting in unacceptable behavioural patterns.
Today, we hear so many often the queries -“Does it pay?” “Does it matter?” “Isn’t beauty a subjective state of the beholder?” “Isn’t truth relative?” “Doesn’t virtue consist of not being found out?”
And so it is that this age lacks the firm highway of the Christian belief of which we were taught in our time as adolescents.
(Today they want it fast, without sweat)
Our minds must be developed in line with Godly purpose with which there is no limit to Social progress, Spiritual advancement, and capacity building to individual achievements.
The glories we have known are nothing compared to the glories yet to be. The mightiest achievements of the past will dwindle into insignificance beside the conquest still possible. (1 Cor. 2:9)
No matter how perfect political liberty may be, how perfect the social wisdom we may enjoy, no matter how progressive the form of democracy we may have achieved, individual Spiritual Awakening is possible when we surrender our faculties for Spiritual Emancipation.
The society can only teach men to enjoy freedom; it cannot teach you how to be free. Statutes can only open the prison doors; it cannot compel man to walk out into the fresh air of liberty.
There is a difference between political freedom and individualistic Spiritual Awakening.
It is that of democracy of the personality that makes possible the full development of the individual; it is the glory of life, the way of spiritual awakening, and of the life abundant.
The implication is far more than freedom; not the freedom to discover our inner man, to see clearly from the Spiritual eyes that we can be at one with God who can do exceedingly above what we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us. (Eph. 3:20)
….. to be continued…
(The Recreated Vessels)
